Former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb said Friday he won’t back Hillary Clinton in the presidential race, but he is open to supporting businessman Donald Trump.
The Republican-turned-Democrat, who ended his presidential bid late last year, said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” that Mrs. Clinton is not his pick for president because it would not bring the sort of change to Washington that is needed.
“No, I would not vote for Hillary Clinton,” Mr. Webb said in response to a question and after he said the former secretary of state has been wrong on every foreign-policy issue since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
“It is nothing personal about Hillary Clinton, but I think the reason that Donald Trump is getting so much support right now is because people are seeing him, a certain group of people, are seeing him as the only one who has the courage to step forward and say we have to clean out the stables of the American governmental system right now,” Mr. Webb said. “We’ve got to make it work.”
He said he doesn’t know who he will support, but refused to rule out Mr. Trump.
“If you are voting for Donald Trump you may get something very good or very bad,” Mr. Webb said. “If you are voting for Hillary Clinton you are going to be getting the same thing. Do you want the same thing?”
Mr. Webb is a decorated Vietnam veteran who served as secretary of the Navy under President Ronald Reagan. He defeated Republican George Allen in the 2006 election, helping Democrats capture control of the U.S. Senate, but chose not to seek re-election.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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